Bills & Brews

A Capitol Hill reporter has just launched a new project that aims to get lawmakers away from their usual scripts. It all starts with a cold craft beer and a little distance from the hallowed halls of Congress.

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Connie Stevens reports.

Reporter Matt Laslo covers Congress for more than 40 NPR affiliate stations, including this one. His new Bills and Brews online political show pairs politicians, craft beers, and conversation.

The pilot episode features a sit-down with Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio, who’s the co-chair of the House Small Brewers Caucus. Virginia Congressmen Hurt and Moran are on that committee too, and Virginia Senator Mark Warner serves on the Senate Small Brewers Caucus. Laslo envisions Virginia, with so many breweries, could get a few staring segments of its own.

But the main concept of Bills and Brews is simply an effort to restore civility to a partisan capital.

Laslo says the pilot is just a taste of what’s still to come. He and his team still have some fund-raising to do, to keep churning out the episodes. They’re launching a kickstarter campaign this week, with the goal of raising about $36,000 dollars.